The first two months of the NHL season have brought their fair share of surprises. The Devils suck, Dustin Byfuglien is a Norris Trophy threat, and the Rangers' Brian Boyle has as many goals as the Caps' Alexander Ovechkin (ten).But, there's also been a lot we've, as hockey fans, grown accustomed to seeing. Sidney Crosby (riding a ridiculous 14-game point streak which has seen him bang home 15 goals and 14 helpers for 29 points) has found more ways to bring his game to the next level. The Red Wings are the best team in the league, by seemingly all accounts. The Maple Leafs still blow (sorry Toronto fans).
Here are 39 observations I've made based on the first two months of the '10-'11 season.
1. Let's start with the obvious - if you still don't view Crosby as the best player in the league, you're an idiot. Here's an excellent piece by Elliotte Friedman which talks about Sid's latest exploits.
2. I've read a few tidbits concerning the Pens' struggling Evgeni Malkin, and how Pittsburgh might be wise to move him. I wouldn't, and here's why...1) They've already proven they can win a cup without top-tier wings for both Crosby and Malkin. 2) Having one of Crosby, Malkin, or Jordan Staal on the ice at all times is a huge advantage, especially come playoff time when match-ups are most important. 3) Malkin is going to step it up eventually - he's too good and too talented not to, even if he isn't giving it his all every shift and banged up physically.
3. Martin Havlat has been the most dominant forward in the NHL aside from Crosby over the last three or so weeks, which is even more impressive when one considers the player who Havlat has the best chemistry with on the Wild is Kyle Brodziak.
4. Sticking with the Wild - Brent Burns has been a stud this season. He is tied for second on the team in goals, and is first in ice-time, logging tough minutes and handling the difficult match-ups. The minus-seven is misleading (the Wild cannot score at even strength, and he's only been on for 22 even strength Wild goals all season, despite playing 24:37 a game). He's begun to finally grasp how to play defensively at the NHL level, and most importantly, he's healthy and concussion free.
5. The extent of Tim Thomas' early season success may be surprising, but the fact that he's regained his spot as the B's number one tender isn't too surprising to me. The guy's going to keep fighting until he's six feet under.
6. My three Hart Trophy candidates right now? Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, and Pavel Datsyuk.
7. Speaking of Datsyuk, if you haven't watched the highlights from Tuesday's Wings/Sharks tilt - do so now. Every goal the Wings score is filthy.
8. Watching Florida or Columbus on the power play is actually painful.
9. Andrew Ladd always struck me as a guy who just needed a real shot on a scoring line. He gets to the front of the net, has a solid shot, and plays the game the right way. In his first two stops (Carolina and Chicago), the numbers were stacked up against him, and his style of play makes him a very suitable candidate for a checking line. Good to see him strutting his stuff in Atlanta.
10. Dustin Byfuglien's start has been unbelievable. It's amazing what a successful playoff run will do for you with regards to confidence. His shot is scary good.
11. Chicago's decision to keep a guy like David Bolland over Ladd or Byfuglien looks horrible right now. That being said, I probably would've done the same thing. It is still early, though.
12. Fans love Alex Ovechkin because he has fun and usually calls it like he sees it. But, that doesn't come without its drawbacks. The stories detailing Ovechkin's rockstar-like off-season have opened the door for criticism, especially since he only has ten goals through 27 games. Fair or not, Ovechkin and Crosby will always be compared, and right now public perception is Crosby worked his tail off all summer while Ovechkin partied it up in Russia.
13. Stamkos gets the headlines, but you could make a strong case Martin St. Louis is the most important player on the Lightning.
14. I think Ken Hitchcock would be a good fit in Toronto. That line-up can't score for sh*t, and Hitchcock will allow them to be competitive while also teaching their young kids how to play defensively. I don't think "Hitch" is the right fit for a contending team in today's NHL, though.
15. My hat's off to Carey Price - what a start.
16. Ilya Kovalchuk isn't the kind of player you win with, plain and simple. He's a very talented player and an incredible goal scorer, but he's always come across as the kind of guy who would be happy if he scored two goals in a 5-2 loss. He's extraordinarily one-dimensional, and still hasn't learned to play off his teammates. It's easy to say this at the present, but it's a belief I've held for a while now.
17. Dan Girardi's been the Rangers' best player this season, with Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan right there with him.
18. Memo to John Tortorella: Get Brian Boyle some power play time.
19. When people talk about the Hurricanes, you get a lot of Eric Staal, Cam Ward, and Jeff Skinner. Give some props to Joni Pitkanen - his defensive play has improved ten-fold since moving to Carolina, and his passing and skating abilities have always been sublime.
20. Skinner is a hell of an offensive player. He's got the drive and skills to be an offensive dynamo in this league for a long, long time. When you have a smart player with good hands, good instincts, and a desire to drive the net...well, let's just say Jim Rutherford has a good one.
21. I didn't like the decision to fire Scott Gordon. The Islanders always played hard for him - not his fault they suck.
22. Many pundits talk about John Tavares as if it's a foregone conclusion he'll eventually be a superstar. He's got a long way to go before that happens - he skates slow as molasses and sucks in his own zone. His skills are elite and he scores his goals in the dirty areas, but he has a long way to go. I'm just not sure I can see his quickness or speed improving to the point where he could be a 90-point player. That being said, he should become one of the top players with the man advantage in the league.
23. Daniel Alfredsson has no points in his last five games and just five points over his last 14. I respect Alfredsson for playing hurt, especially while the Sens are trying to break a funk, but you have to wonder if a week off wouldn't do him some good.
24. Tampa Bay has the necessary to make the playoffs, but their defense and goaltending are horrible.
25. Can Henrik Sedin rack up 100 assists this season? It's not as unlikely as you may think. I love watching the Sedins; they're puck movement is sick.
26. Toronto just lost 5-0 to the Oilers...at home...with the Bruins and Tyler Seguin coming to town tomorrow night...things are getting really ugly in Toronto.
27. I feel for John MacLean. Waiting for your chance that long and then this? Ouch.
28. I've been very impressed by Cam Fowler's start to his NHL career. I wasn't overly impressed with him at last year's World Juniors, and the same goes for what I caught of the Memorial Cup. He didn't look "bad" by any means, but there weren't too many moments where his play jumped out at you. But, it looks as if he'll be a very solid puck-moving defenseman for Anaheim.
29. For everyone raving about Atlanta - I get it, but remember, they had an even better start to their season last year, and how did that end up? I still think they'll miss the playoffs.
30. I love the new All-Star Game format.
31. All the Brad Richards trade talk is really starting to annoy me. 1) The Rangers always prop up as a possible destination. I doubt the Rangers will have enough cap space to sign him, and I can't see Sather moving a guy like Dubinsky, Callahan, or Michael Del Zotto to acquire him. 2) Dallas is currently second in the Western Conference.
32. If the Marco Sturm to Los Angeles trade does eventually go through, it'll be a very nice addition for the Kings. Sturm is an excellent penalty killer, a very capable top-sixer, and is a good team-guy by all accounts.
33. I'm banging my head for not acquiring Kris Letang in all of my fantasy leagues this summer. You could see it last post-season - it's all clicking for him at the NHL level. The kid's tough, too.
34. Calgary isn't going anywhere with their current line-up. Time to blow it up. I understand ownership's hesitancy to move Jarome Iginla, but it's got to start there. He'll fetch a nice return (obviously), even though he's clearly lost a step.
35. Without Miikka Kiprusoff the Flames would be an absolute joke.
36. The Flyers are scary good. Their overall depth is the best in the league.
37. Chicago really needs to ease up Duncan Keith's workload. Forget the spring, he'll be burnt out by the new year at this pace.
38. Ondrej Pavelec has been unbelievable since his return to the ice for Atlanta (as anyone who follows Allan Walsh on Twitter can attest to). It's nice to see a guy return from such a scary injury and excel.
39. Teemu Selanne and Nicklas Lidstrom are truly ageless.
